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The 8 square miles (25 km2)
of land surrounded by the turquoise water of the Atlantic and the
Caribbean sea called St-Barthelemy, was discovered in 1493 by
Christopher Columbus on his first trip to the Americas. He gave the
island the name of his brother, Bartolomeo, hence St-Barthelemy and
very often, St-Barths!
At
this time, this arid dry land with its beautiful sandy beaches
didn't interest anybody. Though in 1648, the first French settlers
coming from the island of St-Kitts started a small colony. They were
rapidly killed by the Caribe Indians. In 1673, the French colonists
from Brittany and Normandy established a community and until now,
they make the majority of the population of St-Barths.
Between 1784 to 1878, St-Barths
became a Swedish colony and prospered, as a neutral and free port,
amidst the infighting between the French, the English, the Spanish
and the Dutch that was the lot at this time.
In 1878, Sweden returned St-Barths
to France. Until now, the St-Barths people retain a very strong
attachment in their heart with Sweden. Now, St-Barths is a county
(commune) of the French overseas department of Guadeloupe.
French laws apply the same way as in France (very much like Hawaii
versus the USA). But for the fact, that is a free port.
The local authority is an elected
mayor and a French government representative (Sous-Préfet).
French is the official language
although English is widely spoken.
The Euro is the official currency
although the US dollar is widely used.
Please look in
LEGAL FORMALITIES for:
"How to buy property in St-Barths". |
stbarthrealty@stbarthrealty.com
